“A wery good imitation o’ one, if it ain’t,” replied Mr. Weller.

“But this is a lady’s card,” said Mr. Pickwick.

“Given me by a gen’l’m’n, howsoever,” replied Sam, “and he’s a-waitin’ in the drawing-room⁠—said he’d rather wait all day, than not see you.”

Mr. Pickwick, on hearing this determination, descended to the drawing-room, where sat a grave man, who started up on his entrance, and said, with an air of profound respect:⁠—

“ Mr. Pickwick, I presume?”

“The same.”